The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-31

woman can uO 90 uucn aAatu thc poOa and the rich, too, for that matter which a man cannot. However, year of mourning was not too long pe- riod, and she made up her mind that the popular pastor should have an op- portunity of estimating the worth of 1 at least one woman, who would gladly console & widower and help him on- wards on his heavenward journey. Accordingly, one Saturday evening she persuaded her brother, the doctor, that 1t was his duty to pay friendly visit to MT. Touchet. "Who knows" said Emmerlinda--that was her name -"but that the lonely vicar might like to come over to tea some Sunday 1; his lite must be sad and dolefnl, and it is our duty, if we can, to alleviate the misery of his solitude"
 Dr. Bolus coughed. He knew his sister and saw through her little game. But like every one else in the neigh borhood, he was fond of the clergy man, and had no objection whatever to spend an hour drinking his whisky punch and smoking those excellent CabanAs, of which the reverend gen. tleman always kept good stock for his friends. Accordingly the two strolled over with polite and hospit- able message.
 "Delighted to see you, I'm sure" said the vicar, welcoming them into his cosy study; "and Miss Emmer- linda, too. this is kind Allow me to l ;,,A Mice Ia h my dear, Dr. Bolus and his sister, Miss Bolus-Miss Hawthorn-pray be seated"
 So here was the niece. From Miss Bolus' gossipy point of view she was indeed in luck. Now she would be able to swagger over her compeers. She had met this mysterious relative aud could tell Mrs. Armstrong all those details she so longed to Know. At once she proceeded to make herself agreeable and succeeded remarkably well. though she was unable to exact much information from the young lady. It really was quite tantalizing. Whenever Emmerlinda was making any way the vicar interposed, and i'll cheery, natural manner took up the conversation and led it here, there and everywhere, right away back to pa rochial affairs, Mrs. Wheeler's bron- chitis, the proposed lawn tennis club, and the argument as to the suitability of the recitation of "Ostler Joe," at the forthcoming penny readings. Miss Bolus was little angry, but she de- termined to make the most of her limited stock of knowledge and pres ently bid her new acquaintance good bye, with gushingly expressed desire that they would "often meet again."
 Hardly decided how to make the most of her superior information con corning the vicar's niece, Miss Bolus finally decided to have chat with Mrs. Armstrong as a preliminary to publicly arrogating to herself the po- sition of knowing more about this worthy gentleman's family affairs than the rest of his practitioners. This had to be delicatcly managed, but an evening dish of tea opens female hearts, and Miss Bolus opened fire with an observation to the effect that "the new fashion in hair dressing was most becoming to brunettes. Look, for in- stance" said she, "how pretty the vicar's niece looks in it."
 MT. Armstrong, who was reading the Referee, turned from his paper. "The vicar's niece is fair; her hair is quite golden" said he.
 "No, black, raven black" persisted Miss Bolus; "aDd done in tight coils round her head"
 Begging your pardon, 1t is fair, and is quite rough, and beautifully untidy."
 "I ought to know,' replied Miss Bolus, triumphantly. "I saw Miss Hawthorn as late as last night"
 "Miss Hawthorn-you mean Miss May bud-has he two nieces?"
 "That's what I want to know" in- terrupted Mrs. Armstrong, severely. "There is some mystery about the vicar's relatives. He himself told me two years ago that he had not rela- tive in the world and now he seems to import fresh niece every Satur- day"
 "My dear, how can you P said her husband, imploriDgly. Suppose any one were to hear you. And such a sweet girl, too," continued he, sotto roce, for his experience of womankind was strictly limited, and he had often thought of Miss Maybud as the love- Hest of her sex. But he was power less to stem the overfiowing flood oi his wife's loquacity: She persevered
 T am not at all satisfied, my dear. Clergymep have no right to bring to their homes, and amidst their respect able and pure parishioners, ladies whom they cannot introduce. What de you say, Miss Bolus? Is it not the duty ofa church warden to investi-